Avocado (Abacate)

Spanish speaking Latin-Americans like to eat avocado with salt. This habit has spread to the United States from countries like Mexico, Cuba and Puerto Rico. Brazilians, however, like to eat this fruit with sugar and use it in vitaminas (milkshakes or smoothies) or in ice-cream.

It has a typical, creamy flavour because of its high fat content. Fortunately, it consists mainly of unsaturated fat which is widely considered wholesome.

Avocado is a pear-shaped fruit with a weight between 100-1000 g (3.5-35 oz). The fruit has a hard, deep green skin and yellow flesh. In the middle of the fruit is a large, unedible seed.

In order to use the flesh, cut the fruit in two, remove the pit and spoon the flesh. If you do not consume it directly, the flesh will turn brown. Use some lemon or lime juice to prevent this.